Trying to do tax return - question about car expenses. Help please!!

[chickenmama]

This is the first time I've had to do my tax return, working out income and expenses. I've not been very organised over the year and am now suffering. I called the tax helpline and they need a record of actual miles for me to claim mileage. I did this for a few weeks then got lazy and can't face going over every day last year to work out how many miles I did. I did see on the hmrc site that 'the actual cost of car expenses for childminding purposes can be claimed instead.' But I don't know what this means!! Can anyone clarify this for me??

Actual costs means (I think - based on DPs business which isn't childminding) that you submit all receipts for fuel, MOT, servicing, tax disks, everything to do with the car.

You then work out what percentage you have used the car for childminding (by keeping a record of childminding miles and personal miles) - and claim that % of teh total costs - which by the sounds of it is nto going to be possible either.

I was as disorganised as you when I was childminding

What I used to do was work out the mileage for an average week and use that for my calculations - probably not strictly legit, but if I had been called upon to submit my accounts I would have then (panicked!) sat down and worked it all out properly for my books.

I use the AA routefinder to estimate my mileage

I know roughly where I go & how often so do it like that

Tax man will usually accept a reasonable estimation if accurate records have not been kept. This is an excuse that may wear a bit thin if you coninually do this.

And claiming the round sum will usually work out more beneficial than the actual costs.

I do the actual costs route (as described by PerfectPrefect)
Collect all receipts, and then claim a set percentage. No good if you haven't hung onto all your receipts though

I like Katy, know where I go with the Children each week, (anything a bit different I can check from my diary) and get the mileage from GoogleMaps.

Also remeber to calculate mileage for shoping for the children.

I claim every third trip to tesco, and every 3rd trip to shopping centre, as most of my shopping is more the children.

Oh and mileage to the local car boot as well, always go to see if I can pick anything up (Got a brilliant Little Tykes Pram this week)

Thanks so much for all the replies

I've gone through the mileage I did write down and I have 18 weeks worth... do you think it'd be ok to just work out an average from this?

Shoshe - I hadn't thought about shopping, so will include that in future

Will definitely be keeping accurate records from now on, can't be doing this again! I've been sitting here for 5 hours solid tonight and I've still got lots more to do!!